NBA: Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul lead Oklahoma City Thunder past San Antonio Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge during the first half in San Antonio on Jan 2, 2020. PHOTO: AP
(From left) Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray and LaMarcus Aldridge during the first half in San Antonio on Jan 2, 2020. PHOTO: AP

(REUTERS) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points, including three huge baskets in the final three minutes, as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder roared from behind to ambush the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 on Thursday in the Alamo City and claim their fourth straight National Basketball Association win.

Oklahoma City outscored the Spurs by seven points in the third quarter and cut their deficit to 76-74 heading to the final period.

The Thunder took charge of the game via a 9-2 run beginning with 8min 32sec to play and assumed a 92-85 lead.

San Antonio would not get closer than three points the rest of the game.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul, who had 10 points in the fourth quarter, then took charge, boosting the advantage to as many as 10 points down the stretch.

The Thunder have won eight of their past nine games.

Dennis Schroder added 19 points for Oklahoma City, with Paul hitting for 16, Steven Adams scoring 14, and Danilo Gallinari contributing 13 points, including a pair of three-pointers in the Thunder's decisive run.

The Thunder won a regular-season game in San Antonio for the first time since Dec 25, 2014, snapping a nine-game losing streak at the Spurs' home arena.

DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 30 points for San Antonio, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Lonnie Walker IV pumped in 16 points off the bench, including nine in the fourth quarter.

The Spurs led by as many as 14 points in the first half before taking a 55-46 advantage to intermission.

DeRozan scored 18 points in the half with Aldridge hitting for 13 for San Antonio.

Schroder paced Oklahoma City with 10 points off the bench.

The difference in the half was in the three-point shooting - San Antonio was eight of 16 from beyond the arc while the Thunder made just four of 16 from long distance - and in rebounding, where the Spurs owned a 26-19 edge over the first 24 minutes.

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